Sewing-awl



NITED STATES PATENT FFICE...

. GEORGE FRANKLIN SUMMERS, OF PLEASANTON, KANSAS.

S EWI NG-AWL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 596,554, dated January4, 1898. Application filed February 23, 1897. Serial No. 624,676. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE FRANKLIN SUMMERS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Pleasanton, in the county of Linn and State ofKansas, have invented a new and useful Awl, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to awls adapted to be used by shoemakers orharness-makers, the object being to provide a tool of this character thehandle of which will form a receptacle for the thread, wax-end, orstring that is to be used to make stitches and from which it leads to aneye formed in the end of the awl and is drawn out from the handle gradtending from the eye 13 to the handle 1.

ually as the stitching progresses.

With this object in view the invention consists of the several detailsof construction and the combination of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, and particularly pointed out in the a claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved awl. Fig.2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the linea a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar View on the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig.5 is a view showing the method of forming the stitch.-

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in the severalfigures.

1 represents the handle, which tapers at its front end and is bored outlongitudinally to form a chamber 2, which receives the supply of thread,wax-end, or string (indicated by 3) and which is placedin the chamber insuch manner that it will feed therefrom without becoming tangled.

4 represents a stopper to close the end of the chamber 2. This stoppermay be held in position by friction or be connected to the handle byscrew-threads or otherwise. From the inner end of the chamber 2 a hole 5extends obliquely to the outer surface of the handle, and this holeserves as a passage through which the thread passes from the chamber tothe awl.

6 represents a tension device, which is in the form of a strip of springmetal and is secured about midway of its length to the handle by meansofa screw 7. In its normal position the spring-strip is bowed or bent,and when its middle portion is forced down toward the handle by means ofthe screw 7 its ends will bear with considerable force upon the handle.The rear end of this spring fits into a recess in the handle, (indicatedby 8,) and the spring is thereby prevented from having lateral movement.The front end of the spring bears upon the thread or wax-end a shortdistance in advance from where it leaves the hole 5, and the handle isprovided at this point with a groove 9, which extends under the ferrule10 on the end of the handle. The tension of the spring can be adjustedby operating the screw 7.

11 represents the awl, which is provided on one side with a longitudinalgroove 12, ex

This groove is for the purpose of permitting the thread or wax-end tolie therein, so as to be practically flush with the surface of the awland thereby permit the awl to be more readily pushed through the leatheror other material being sewed. Theopposite side of the awl is alsoprovided with a groove 14 to receive the thread or wax-end, and as theawl is pushed through the leather or other material the thread is loopedat the eye of the awl and the looped portion is carried through thematerial with the awl.

The groove 12 in the awl is in alinement with the groove 9, which isformed in the handle under the ferrule in order that the thread may passdirectly into the groove in the awl, and both of these grooves are inalinement with the opening 5, through which the thread passes from thechamber 2.

'When it is desired to form stitches, the thread or wax-end is passedthrough the eye of the awl and a sufiicient length drawn out, so thatthe end may be held between the thumb and the handle of the tool, andthe awl is then pushed through the leather, after which the end of thewax-end is pulled through the hole and may then be threaded in anordinary needle, (indicated by 15 in Fig. 5.) The awl is then withdrawnfrom the leather, leaving the thread extending through the hole justmade, and'the thread is then drawn through this hole a sufficientlength, according to the number of stitches to be made. The awl is thenagain pushed through the leather, carrying the thread with it, and thenpartially withdrawn, which will result in making a loop ICO in thethread at the side of the needle, through which loop the needle 15 mustbe passed, carrying the thread with it, and then by withdrawing the awlfrom the hole and pulling firmly on both threads a stitch will be formedsimilar to a lock-stitch made by an ordinary sewing machine, and thisoperation is repeated until the required number of stitches are made.

I desire to have it understood that by the term awl I include anypointed shaft with an eye at its outer end and a longitudinal groove forthe reception of the thread.

This tool will be very useful to mend shoes,

harnesses, suspenders, &c., or any other articles where it is desirableto form a lockstitch. 1

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is The combination witha handle provided .With a chamber to receive a supply of thread andhaving a passage leading obliquely from the inner end of the chamber tothe outer surface of the handle through which the thread passes, of anawl attached to the front end of the handle, a ferrule on the front endof the handle, and a tension device engaging the thread between the saidpassage and the ferrule, the awl having an eye at its outer end and alongitudinal groove extending from the eye to the handle, and the handlehaving a groove at its outer end leading from said passage beneath theferrule through which the thread passes to the awl, the grooves in theawl and handle being in alinement with each other and with the saidpassage, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE FRANKLIN SUMMERS.

\Vitnesses:

J. R. HOLMES, G. V. WAYMIRE.

